Alberta Aquaculture Research

Funding for aquaculture research in Alberta has traditionally come from agencies such as AAFRD (Alberta Agriculture, Food & Rural Development), the Alberta Aquaculture Association (often through in-kind contributions) and the Lethbridge Community College (mainly through the use of the facility structure). Frequently, these individual groups work together as a team under the umbrella of the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence (ACE - situated in Lethbridge). In Alberta there is also aquaculture money available through the Diversified Livestock Funds of Alberta (DLFOA). This funding consortium assists with agriculture research and development on a variety of other diversified livestock species. Since inception, the DLFOA has contributed over $250,000 cash to ten aquaculture projects. Value of these ten aquaculture projects totals nearly $900,000.

In 2006, aquaculture research involved five projects, including: "Aquaponics Development", Northern Crayfish Trapping / Marketing Potentials", Recirculating Aquaculture Biofiltration Remediation", "New Species Development for Warmwater Aquaculture", and "Plant Protein Alternatives for Aquaculture Feeds".

Partnership with our federal Government continues, through the Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program. The ACRDP has approved assistance in the "Aquaponics Commercial Development" project at the provincial Crop Diversification Centre South, in Brooks Alberta. Federal - provincial cooperation in aquaculture is important for Alberta, and continues through recent industry workshops for strategic planning and direction. Report contributed by Eric Hutchings, AAFRD.

Previous Page | Table of Contents | Next Page